Irresponsibility Chapter 8.4

At the voice that pierced his ear, Yeoun turned his head.

The sun was setting outside the window. The outline of the mountain was bright red, and above it, a reddish light spread like paint. The fluffy clouds were also orange.

The rainy season is over, Yeoun thought, and glanced at his hand. There wasn’t much pain today, but since he offered to massage his hand, he was sitting silently on his lap, pretending not to know, and savoring the warmth. Perhaps because of what had happened last night, his body felt languidly stretched out, and he needed a little more of his warmth.

“Let’s have dinner outside.”

“Ou-Outside?”

He didn’t really feel like it. He was sleepy and had no energy, so he just wanted to sit quietly on the sofa with him.

“Yeah. On the outdoor bench.”

Baek Geonhyuk answered softly and let go of my hand. Was it obvious that I was disappointed by that?

“I’ll do it again after we eat.”

He said affectionately and kissed my cheek. Joo Yeoun blinked his eyes and played innocent, but he didn’t say no.

Baek Geonhyuk, who had smiled lightly, got up from the sofa with his arm still around Joo Yeoun’s waist. He was a little surprised when his feet left the ground, but his soles landed steadily on the floor.

“Should we make bibim-guksu?”

“C-Can you make it?”

“Don’t you just add soy sauce, sugar, and sesame oil?”

I had seen my mom make the red bibim-guksu, but I didn’t know much about the soy sauce kind. I think that’s right, Yeoun said, and naturally followed behind Baek Geonhyuk. But he suddenly stared at me intently.

“Why?”

At my puzzled question, he shook his head, saying, it’s nothing. Then, standing right there, he stroked my hair and even kissed me before he started walking again.

While Baek Geonhyuk was boiling the noodles, Joo Yeoun sat on a dining chair and watched him. He quietly watched him slice cucumbers at a steady pace next to the steaming pot, and when he started making the bibim sauce, he stood up.

When I went and stood close behind his large back, he turned his head and looked at me. Peck, a kiss landed easily on my forehead. Yeoun needlessly brushed his hair back and looked at the bowl.

“Want to taste it?”

“Yeah…”

Baek Geonhyuk put a little of the bibim sauce on a spoon and brought it to Joo Yeoun’s lips. When I took the spoon with my lips and swallowed, he watched my expression as if observing it and asked.

“How is it?”

“I-It would be good with a little more sugar.”

“A little?”

Baek Geonhyuk took the bag of sugar and tilted it unhesitatingly over the bowl.

“Ah! That’s too m-much.”

At the sugar that poured out, whoosh, Joo Yeoun quickly grabbed his hand. Then he took the bowl and spoon right out of his hand and carefully removed some of the sugar. After mixing it well and tasting it, he also added a little bit of red pepper powder and sesame oil.

“Yeoun, do you know what you’re doing?”

“I know more than you do…”

At those words, Baek Geonhyuk chuckled.

“I’m, I’m good at tasting.”

Joo Yeoun held up the spoon with the mixed bibim sauce and offered it to Baek Geonhyuk. At that, he paused for a moment, then his eyes curved as he accepted it.

“Oh. You’re right.”

Baek Geonhyuk, who had tasted it, raised his eyebrows as if surprised. Joo Yeoun turned his head as if to say, see, and went back to sit at the table. At the sight of him turning back after giving his coy help, Baek Geonhyuk let out a smirk.

Once the bibim sauce was done, the rest was quick. On the portable table brought out from the pantry were two bowls of bibim-guksu of different portions, kimchi, utensils, and water.

It was a humble meal, but the portable table was not small. However, because Baek Geonhyuk refused his offer to help, Joo Yeoun just hovered beside him the whole time.

“Open the front door for me.”

Baek Geonhyuk, who had been watching Joo Yeoun, gestured with his chin and smiled.

“Ah!”

Joo Yeoun, who let out a single exclamation, ran with small steps, put on his slippers, and opened the front door. Then, holding the door from the outside, he peeked his head in and looked at Baek Geonhyuk. After he passed through the front door carrying the table, I closed the door and followed closely beside him again. My white hand repeatedly came close to the table and then moved away.

Baek Geonhyuk, with a slight frown, strode over and set the table down on the outdoor bench, then pulled Joo Yeoun’s face toward him. After kissing his lips and cheeks several times, he said as if sighing.

“We need to eat, so stop being cute.”

What’s with him. Joo Yeoun slyly slipped out of his grasp.

Feeling a bit awkward, I was flicking the leaves off the bench onto the ground, thump thump, when he grabbed my wrist. The large hand gently brushed off my palm as if dusting it and quickly pulled away. I looked at my hand, which felt empty, for a moment before picking up my chopsticks.

“Should I get you a fork?”

“Huh?”

I stopped lifting the noodles and looked at him, and he gestured.

“Isn’t it uncomfortable to use chopsticks? It’s hard for me to feed you this.”

“It’s not uncomfortable. I-I-I…”

Even though my hand didn’t hurt at all, I was a little flustered that I might get caught pretending it did so he would massage it. So, I stuttered for much longer than usual before I could get the words out. I always stuttered in front of him, but it was still embarrassing.

Joo Yeoun lowered his head and put the noodles in his mouth. As I was chewing with my mouth full, I felt a touch on the back of my head.

“You’re doing well.”

Does your hand not hurt today? Baek Geonhyuk said suggestively.

“…I-It hurt earlier.”

When I glanced at him, he smiled slightly and said, “It must have gotten better because I massaged it.” As I pretended not to notice and kept my eyes only on the bowl, his chopsticks approached and placed some kimchi on top.

“But I’m better at using chopsticks.”

“Th-That must be nice.”

“Yeah.”

Looking at his nonchalant face, Joo Yeoun sounded out the word jeot-ga-rak-jil in his head. I’ll have to practice tomorrow when Baek Geonhyuk goes to work. After that not-so-gloomy thought, Joo Yeoun ate the noodles with the kimchi he had placed on top.

“It’s my first time… my first time eating soy sauce bibim-guksu.”

“Really?”

Baek Geonhyuk asked, looking at my chewing face.

“It’s more delicious because we’re eating outside, isn’t it.”

At those words, Joo Yeoun looked around the yard. The navy-blue darkness had descended, and orange lights illuminated various spots in the yard.

Suddenly, he smelled the scent of grass. Taking a deep breath, Yeoun looked into the distance. He could see the lit-up mountain village and the sky where the sunset colors had faded. Even though it was dark, the clouds and crescent moon were clear in the bright sky. Starting tomorrow, the sunny weather might continue.

“Yeah… It’s delicious.”

Yeoun said as if muttering to himself, and Geonhyuk smiled gently as he watched him.

The next morning, Yeoun woke up because of the bright light. He rubbed his eyes and immediately checked the back of his hand, where a yellow note was stuck.

Yeoun, the sky is blue

Peeling off the note, Yeoun let out a yawn. He rustled out from under the bed and went to the window, and indeed, the sky was a deep blue.

After looking at the sky for a while longer, he tidied up his bedding and left the room. It seemed Baek Geonhyuk hadn’t come home yet, as he had woken up early because of the sunlight.

In that case, I should hurry up and wash, then watch for him to come through the living room window.

At that thought, his slow movements quickened. Joo Yeoun ran down the stairs with a pat-pat-pat-pat sound and was about to head straight for the bathroom but changed direction and stopped by his room.

Rattle, as he opened the desk drawer, yellow notes fluttered inside. Yeoun placed the note that had been on the back of his hand today on the very top and carefully closed the drawer.

Then, after just a quick wash of his face and brushing his teeth in the bathroom, he came out and plopped down on the living room floor. Perhaps because the day was bright, even the color of the grass was vivid today. As he looked past the light green grass towards the white chair placed far away, a large person soon appeared.

He walked slowly along the path. He wasn’t looking at me. It was possible that the sunlight reflecting off the glass made the inside of the house invisible.

Joo Yeoun, who was watching him with a bit of disappointment, suddenly had a sparkle in his eyes. Then he got up from the floor and walked, almost running, to the front door.

His plan was to hide and surprise Baek Geonhyuk. Hadn’t he never seen him surprised before? How would he react? If he jumped in surprise, wouldn’t his head hit the ceiling? Would he scream too?

Joo Yeoun stood with his back pressed against the wall next to the front door and pressed a hand to his chest. He was the one doing the surprising, but his own heart was pounding.

As he was taking a deep breath, he heard the sound of the front door opening. Joo Yeoun, his eyes shining, pushed off the wall and spun around, whoosh.

“Boo!”

He spread both his hands and even stomped his foot a little.

“…”

But Baek Geonhyuk just stared at me nonchalantly. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze moving from my outstretched hands to my slightly bent knees and tensed toes, before finally opening his mouth.

“You surprised me.”

His tone was not surprised at all.

Joo Yeoun slowly lowered his hands. And as he turned around quietly, Baek Geonhyuk grabbed his arm from behind.

“You really surprised me.”

“…St-Stop it.”

“It’s true.”

Baek Geonhyuk, who was hugging Joo Yeoun from behind, peppered his cheekbone and ear with small kisses and opened his mouth. A gentle voice flowed out.

“Were you waiting here to surprise me?”

“…”

“It was scary. Your hands are so big and rough…”

Geonhyuk took the slender hand and fiddled with it. Yeoun shook his hand, shake shake, but he playfully followed and gently tickled his palm.

“Y-You saw me through the window, didn’t you.”

A laughter-filled reply came back to the question I asked while glaring.

“I didn’t see you.”

“The sunlight made it so I couldn’t see inside.”

The added words, that’s why you surprised me, were so annoying that Joo Yeoun threw his head back hard. The round back of his head hit the hard shoulder with a thump.

Baek Geonhyuk, who had been chuckling, grabbed the narrow chin and looked down at him. The slightly scrunched-up face was clear. His bangs were slightly wet, and the scent of soap wafted from him.

“You woke up early.”

The corners of Baek Geonhyuk’s mouth lifted as he lowered his head. The small head that had been leaning on his shoulder slowly slipped down and touched his firm bicep. As Joo Yeoun opened his eyes wide and squeezed the hand he was holding, a low laugh vibrated between their touching lips.